Originally Posted by MeanGreen

just change the belt now before it breaks. mine broke a couple months ago...

bent some valves. the replacement head was like 300, the head gasket was about 30 from honda, plus you have to get a new intake mani gasket like 15, new knock sensor was about 120 (mine needed to be replaced), new belt, new valve cover gaskeys, etc... and if you dont have any of the right tools for all this work, expect to pay for a torque wrench and lots of other tools... or be prepared to pay more than what i just quoted on parts for just the labor to have someone else do the repair when your belt breaks(plus the cost of repairman parts - they add their own cut to your cost).

changing the belt is pretty damn easy too. you just need to get a crankshaft pulley holder tool for your civic, look on amazon, mine was 20 or so... and get a belt from honda, they're like 20-30$.

it should take you about 3-4 hours to change the belt, if you let it break- it will take so much more time...